Seeds of Parkinsonia tree

Common name: Parkinsonia tree, Parkinsonia. Scientific name: Parkinsonia aculeata. It is known as the Mexican green stick or Jerusalem thistle, and this plant is a small fast-growing tree native to the southwestern United States of America and Mexico. It was one of the first plants introduced as an ornamental plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The tree is round in shape and has a beautiful appearance, usually multi-stemmed with green bark, drooping branches, and slender twigs, and can reach a height of 8 meters and a crown width of about 5 meters. The leaves are short-lived in desert conditions, but when the tree becomes leafless, the petioles remain as silky needles. The leaves are surrounded by two rows of leaflets, ranging from 25-30 small oval-shaped leaflets, and during drought periods, the tree sheds its leaves. On the branches, there are sharp spines up to 5-7 mm long. Intermittent flowering and fragrant clusters of flowers with reddish-orange color add stunning beauty in spring. Following the flowering phase, fruits appear in the form of slender pods up to about 15 cm long. The plant prefers to grow in sandy, alkaline, and clay soils with good drainage, and when cultivated in open areas exposed to sunlight, it requires watering until established. This tree is very hardy, tolerating frost, wind, salinity, and drought. Reproduction is by seeds. It is susceptible to red spiders and mealybugs. Some countries have recorded Parkinsonia trees as invasive plants, and they are now considered a major problem in Australia. Parkinsonia is a desirable tree for landscaping because its beautiful shape makes it suitable for residential neighborhoods and as a limited shade tree. It is also suitable for street decoration and as a plant barrier. It requires limited care, possibly just removing plant debris. Pruning is necessary to achieve the proper shape.